Northamptonshire Police puts wellbeing in the spotlight by signing up to become a Menopause Friendly Employer

With an estimated one third of the entire UK female population currently menopausal or peri menopausal and almost half the Northamptonshire Police workforce female, the organisation is changing the way people think about menopause health and putting the wellbeing of colleagues first.

The commitment to becoming a menopause friendly employer means working towards a sustainable change in the workplace and nurturing an inclusive culture with the right support for all.

More than ever before, women are seeing policing as an attractive career, with the force currently made up of 47 per cent women and increasing numbers of new recruits accounting for a growing female workforce.

The menopause – a natural physiological change – that happens to all women can result in physical and psychological changes that last several years. This means the impact on women in the workforce can be significant, with many women often choosing to leave work.

The force will work towards achieving joint accreditation with Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, to be awarded by Menopause Friendly. As part of the work to achieve this, the force has driven change in a number of areas:

• Since 2013 the force has supported officers and staff through the Menopause Support Group
• Information and training events held including informal Menopause cafes
• Policies and practices that allow for reasonable adjustments and flexible working arrangements to help manage the symptoms at work
• Menopause Guide to support both sufferers and managers of those experiencing symptoms
• Champions across the force to provide guidance and support

Last year, Northamptonshire Police also became an Endometriosis Friendly employer, starting the conversation about women’s menstrual health. Champions in force were trained to be able to support colleagues suffering the debilitating condition as well as provide guidance and support to supervisors and managers. 

Inspector Sharan Wildman, Wellbeing lead on menopause and endometriosis , said: “It is great that a subject which has always been taboo for so long, is now being spoken about in the workplace and support is being put in place for officers and staff.

“Huge steps have been made in recent years, and this will enable us to consolidate the work we have undertaken so far, and identify what else we need to do, in order that we can support and retain our staff and become an employer of choice.”

The work in this area forms part of a wider commitment by the force to women’s wellbeing and part of the Menopause Workplace Pledge.

The pledge was established by charity Wellbeing of Women which works to improve the health and wellbeing of women through research, education and advocacy.